He stood laughing at me in my agony.
"Master George gave you no such orders," I exclaimed, maddened by the overseer's look and manner.
The overseer looked at me with a fiendish grin.

"None of your insolence," said he, with a dreadful oath.

"I never saw a Virginia nigger that I couldn't manage, proud as they are.

Your master has left you in my hands, and you must obey my orders.

If you don't, why I shall have to make you '_hug the widow there_,'" pointing to a tree, to which I afterwards found the slaves were tied when they were whipped.
That night was one of sleepless agony.